Electronic transformer



Feb. 6, v Q F W|LQX l ELECTRONIC TRANSFOHMER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug.1l, 1942 7^ 3 6 87K 5., 2 e P F. .M/ P IP fn C@ x m j m Feb. 6, 1945. c.F. wlLcox ELECTRONIC TRANSFORMER Filed vAug. l1, 1942 2 meets-Sheet 2APatented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEo'raoNrcTRANsFoRMER Charles F. Willcox, Cambridge, Mass. Application Augustzll,1942, Serial No. 454,465

The invention relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to anelectronic transformer, the primary object of the invention being toprovide electronic means whereby a second magnetic field andtransformer'action are produced to in- A fiuence and control thetraveled distance and the directive path of the moving electronsreleased within an electron tube.

Present electronic tubes may be considered las electronic valves soconstructed that their elements may be thought of as oatingf that is, asconnected by the actual electronic stream and the capacity eiect betweentheir various elements. Because of this condition the variousfundamental circuits employed in electronics are limited. It is l animportant object of the present invention to make feasible electroniccircuit designs, not so limited, -and to make possible many additional,more ecient, and different applications of electrical energy in thisfield.

It is an established fact that a magnetic field may be used to changethe speed and direction of Imovement of electrons in vacua and therebybring about various desirable eiects not available without such controlof .the electrons. However,

l present means and method of-so controlling electrons are costly andcomplicated, and unstable in action and result, to an extent renderingthem impractical for many possible uses. An important object of thepresent invention is to provide relatively inexpensive, compact, andeiiicient ymeans for stable control of the character indicated, wherebythe functioning of circuits wherein unstable operation causesdifficulties is greatly improved, and whereby other circuits of greatvalue in solving electrical engineering problems are made available.

`Other important objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from a -reading of the following description and the appendeddrawings, wherein for the purposes of illustration only, preferredembodiments of the invention are shown.

, In the drawings- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional viewtaken through an electronic transformer tubel embodying the presentVinvention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line -2-2 ofFigure 1 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the cylindrical split plate ofthe tube.

Figure 41s a schematic diagram of .the electrical relation of theelements of the tube.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the sections of theplate.

1 claim (o1. 2504-275) Figure 6 is a similar view of another section.Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view the helical grid coil andsupports.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure '7. Figure 9 is a perspective viewof one of the grid helix supports and plate section insulators.

Figure 10 is a `perspective View of another of the helix supports andplate section insulators.

`It is a well known fact that an electron projected into a magneticfield will reverse its motion fwhen that magneti-c eld is at rightangles to the direction of travel of the electron, and further that whena static charge field is present also the deiiecting pull on the'electron is the vector resultant of the charge field and the magneticfield.

The purpose and function of the herein disclosed device is to bringabout a second magnetic field and transformer action to influence andcontrol the traveled distance and the directive path 4of the movingelectron, and further to provide more than one critical point ofoperation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the said device consists of anevacuated glass vessel 2 containing a cylindrical heater and electronemitter FrFzK, a split cylindrical plate PiPz, and a helicalV grid coilG1G2, all properly supported and com-y pletely insulated by pillars 6 ofrectangular shape, said pillars being supported by metal rods 'l whichare embedded in glass foundation li.- The elements G1G2 and PiPz areco-axial with FiFzK so that GiGz lies in the intervening space betweenPiPz and FiFzK. The proper leads are brought out through the glassfoundation 9, and one lead G1 is'brought out of the vessel top throughseal and cap l.

The cylindrical heater and electron emitter FiFzK is of the ribbonlament packed `tyl Where the emitter or cathode K has its outsidesurface coated by metallic oxide compounds, such coating preferablycomprising oxides of barium and strontium which operate at temperaturesof the order of 1150 K., substantially lower than those possible withthorium and tungsten. The thickness of the coating is approximately onemolecule. K isof nickel.

The'helical grid coil GiGc is suspended by the four pillars 6 and isthreaded through holes 4 magnetic field at right angles to the path ofthe emitted electrons of K. GiGz has a low coei' cient of expansionandis a good electrical con` ductor.

The coil is continuous so that' .f

The split plate cylinder, of iron or alloy, is

made in four sections held together by rivets 8' passing through holes 8in the insulating pillars l 6 except Where the longitudinal slit occurs.

At this point the insulation is complete so that an E. F. applied toPiPz will `cause a current to l flow through PiP'z and a magnetic fieldwill be produced at right angles to the pathv of the i emitted electronsof K. The insulator rings 3,

two in number, and borne by the ytwo rod supports 1 maintain therigidity of support. The rings 3 bear against kthe glass vessel 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a schematic velectrical dia.- i gram where thetransformer connections are shown. GiGz may serve as the transformerprimary While'PiPz may serve as the'transformer l The transformerv ratio1 secondary or vice versa. At the same time P1152 surface acts as thestatic charge plate andthe GiGz surface acts as the static chargecontrol 2 grid, all in relationship with the electron emitter l K. FF isthe heater to heat K. Because of the arrangement of PiPz and GiGz analternating E. M. F. applied to-GiG2 Will induce a current in i PiPz 90out of phase. is dependent upon the number of turns 4of the i GiGz helixsince the PiPz is a xed split loop. Also, as a result, of thisarrangement the magnetic fields of GiGz an'dA `Pil'z are parallel andalmost colinean It is possible, therefore, to have the P1P; field andthe GiGz eld exist separately orto add or subtract vectorially.

The electron is born in the GiGz magnetic eld and is directedaccordingly then when the GiG2 field diminishes the PiPzmagnetic fieldbuilds up and directs the electron accordingly. The phase difference is90 for fundamental operation, however the effective control can bealtered by applying another E. M. F. at PiPz since it is thedifferential oi the tvs/@magnetic fields andthe static' chargeeld thatAbrings about the variable and final control. Thus, there is a Wide rangeof control rather than just one critical point where operation begins..novel-` and. useful feature remote control apparatus of which theelectronic transformer is a part,

i's' greatly simplified Cand accuracy of control is 'deiinite what isClaimed is:

An el'ectronictransformer comprising an evacuf Because of this

